First of all, before I jump into this week's Geeks Geezers and
Googlization podcast about the evolution of L&D (learning and
development), who would ever think that content creation would be
associated with Human Resources? For the record ...when I'm talking
about content, I'm not talking traditional HR paperwork! But
just as a
recruiter is now a marketer, human resources and microleanring
go together like two peas in a pod.

As the race for talent heats up, winning companies are focused
on training employees. The emergence of microlearning is on. AI and
video are fueling a revolution. But can it solve the shortage of
skilled workers? Grab a drink, sit back, and get ready to learn
about the future of learning at work.

There is mounting pressure to train both new hires and current
employees faster. It's created a
shift in the way companies source, build, curate and deliver
the right content at the right time. With technologies like AI and
video fueling a revolution, microlearning has evolved from a
buzzword to workforce development solution. And who better to
help us understand what's happening in learning and development
than Dr.
Summer Salomonsen, head of Content Studios at
Cornerstone OnDemand?

What is microlearning? It's no longer the 8 hour classroom
workshops of yesteryear nor the Powerpoint presentations of a
decade ago. Organizations are longer confident that the information
presented by trainers as they click through bullet points
slide-by-slide is sinking in and making a difference.
Instead microlearning
is an approach to learning development that experts like Dr. Summer
Salomonsen and the team at Cornerstone do incredibly well. While
microlearning is not an entirely new idea in and of itself, it is,
by definition, a way to describe how the average human brain
learns. It’s this learning process that Dr. Salomonsen uses to stir
up a new generation of workplace engagement in learning.

As much as microlearning has advanced the cause, it’s also true
that L&D in general is being told to step up their game. With
the current workforce inundated by
Millenials and
Gen Z, the learning audience of today can “sniff out sub-par
content in 7 seconds flat.” For strategic learning to take place
and be effective, the content has to be top of the line, to the
point, and seamless.

As much as microlearning best practices have advanced, Dr.
Salomonsen points out that learning is not a construct but a
concept. We are always learning, day in and day out, task by task,
micro-bit in time by micro-bit in time. Those all day workshops
that we used to send employees off to are increasingly ineffective
and mind-numbing.

On Cornerstone’s end, the
embodiment of microlearning comes in the form of mixed media,
auditory snippets, and learner videos (just to name a few - think
TED and TEDx Talks!).
They focus what problems need to be solved right now within their
learning programs so that employees have a sense of relief and a
gratefulness for the information that is being delivered to
them.

Going a little deeper in our discussion with Dr. Summer and our
focus on the future of work, it was inevitable that the subject of
AR and VR would come up. While it’s currently getting a bit of use
within response training, manufacturing as well as hospital type
simulations, is it something we should expect to see on the horizon
for HR? As we discuss in the show, it's not quite there
yet. One reason is the investment required for the technology
and the cost of developing content for virtual reality. "It’s
important to remember that it’s just tech but tech like this
continues to push our industry forward," said Salomonsen.

Ways to contact Dr. Summer Salomonsen?

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About the Podcast

We live in interesting times. Our Geeks, Geezers and Googlization Podcast shares interviews with many of the most fascinating and successful industry thought leaders about managing the convergence of the wired, tired, and technology. Topics include tips on managing disruptive workforce trends and how companies can recruit faster, hire smarter, and retain employees longer. A favorite subject will be the Millennial Generation and managing the multi-generation workforce.
So what is Googlization and what does it have to do with managing people? Technology is being introduced at an accelerating pace. .It is disrupting and changing the way we work. The definition of work itself is evolving and the skills required to do them are more advanced. At the same time, the melting pot of 5 generations – Veterans, Baby Boomers., Generation X, Millennials, and Generation Z – poses an unprecedented challenge for managers.
And because Millennials will soon make up nearly 75% of the workforce, many of the episodes will address the best ways to attract and engage them. But other topics will include recruiting strategies and hiring trends as well as best practices for talent acquisition, leadership development, and employee retention.
Our goal with each episode is to provoke conversation and challenge the status quo. We won’t leave any stones unturned in our search for best practices of talent management. We hope you’ll accept our invitation to subscribe to our podcast, share the content, suggest future topics, and join the conversation.